'Fore!'

[mat562]

A dying art... **Rant Alert**

Is it just me, or is it becoming increasingly rare to see (or hear) a professional golfer shout 'Fore!' in the event of a wayward shot?

Watching the LA Open, I've just seen Garcia pull a fairway wood into #18 which was directly on line with a gaggle of people inside the ropes on the bank to the left of the green. Fortunately the ball missed them - unlike the 3 iron he hit last year's Open Championship that just about KO'd a photographer at #17. Not surprising since no-one (Garcia included) had the sense to shout a warning despite the ball being like a tracer bullet towards the gallery.

Not to single out Garcia, since every pro seems to be equally guilty of not shouting these days, along with caddies, marshalls and everyone else who has a view of the ballflight and the chance to shout a warning.

I know you accept the risk when you go to a golf tournament, but, if I were to be struck by a ball after no-one bothered to shout I'd be mightily cheesed off.

I got hit by Nick Faldo's golf ball once as a 13 year old at Royal Birkdale - but I escaped somewhat unscathed as a result of taking some protective action since numerous people were bellowing 'Fore!' back on the tee.

For all the criticism Tiger cops for swearing, wafting clubs about and spitting he's at least one of the few players to still shout when he hits a wide.

It baffles me why no-one seems willing to shout these days.

[XYB34A]

Good post, totally agree.

[DaveyH]

seems like this is catching on to club golfers!!

Its getting increasingly rarer anyone shouts fore these days.

[cbassgolf]

I guess you failed to notice that 18 was playing dead into the wind. Sergio could have screamed fore at the top of his lungs, but the only people that would have heard it would have been the group on the tee. Honestly come on!

[Pdougherty]

I guess you failed to notice that 18 was playing dead into the wind. Sergio could have screamed fore at the top of his lungs, but the only people that would have heard it would have been the group on the tee. Honestly come on!

 

I totally agree. There have been many times where I have seen people yell "fore" but hear absolutely nothing. Even when they're less than 200 yards away. With my experience of marshalling at a tour event, I can tell you that some people are just clueless. I've seen people marshal out of lawn chairs and start waiving hard left when the ball is clearly going straight except the person waving doesn't even have a clear view at the green. Some holes, depending on the tree line and sky, the ball is invisible until it hits the ground. So some people, depending on their angle of the ball, have no idea what the ball is doing. However, I definitely have seen some players ( not necessarily pros) that are just too lazy to yell anything or even give an arm motion. If possible an initiative should at least be made.

[TM golf guy]

Mat I agree with you. It is becoming more rare to hear that on the golf course too.

[The Ultimate Spin]

I guess you failed to notice that 18 was playing dead into the wind. Sergio could have screamed fore at the top of his lungs, but the only people that would have heard it would have been the group on the tee. Honestly come on!

 

 

it's still unacceptable that he didn't try to give warning. golf is a game of rules, etiquette, honor and respect. uphold the standards of golf or the game looses all meaning.

[Roughneck]

I see it less as well. But at a tour event, they may be doing it for a reason as well. Maybe not to disturb the person putting on the green behind them ? I could imagine someone flipping because they were in the middle of a putting stroke and being startled by someone shouting "FORE!!" . Another thought, yelling "FORE" causes that person to look at whoever said it , thus giving more chance to catch the errant ball in the face. I'll still do it though...

[tanj]

Well I'd like to say that I have been saved by a "fore!" This was at Barwon Heads GC in Australia, Victoria, a links course by the beach. The wind was howling. I heard the guy shout "Fore!" when I was upwind and fortunately for me, I ducked and covered my head, my instinct that my dad schooled me on when I first started playing. Consequently, the ball clipped my hat on the full instead of a direct hit to the top of my head.

 

Remember: safety first.

 

Josh

[TheNatural72]

Good post here. I have noticed over the years on the television broadcasts that players aren't yelling Fore after wayward shots. I know a few of you think that yelling from 200+ yards is not necessary, but, If you hit a shot so bad that people are in danger, you should be yelling as soon as you realize it Pro or not.. It is embarrassing to have to shout at the top of your lungs and let everybody know you have hit a terrible shot, but you have to do it. I am sure most of you have heard a ball buzz by your head on a local course and you look around like What the F'n hell, only to see some guy standing back there like Sorry man.. . :drinks:

 

The Pro's need a reality check. They freak out over someone snapping a camera and then they cant even yell when there golf ball is heading towards a gallery. They should be fined for that kinda of conduct on the course. Doesn't surprise me from Sergio though.

[DRGJR72]

Is it just me, or is it becoming increasingly rare to see (or hear) a professional golfer shout 'Fore!' in the event of a wayward shot?

 

Watching the LA Open, I've just seen Garcia pull a fairway wood into #18 which was directly on line with a gaggle of people inside the ropes on the bank to the left of the green. Fortunately the ball missed them - unlike the 3 iron he hit last year's Open Championship that just about KO'd a photographer at #17. Not surprising since no-one (Garcia included) had the sense to shout a warning despite the ball being like a tracer bullet towards the gallery.

 

Not to single out Garcia, since every pro seems to be equally guilty of not shouting these days, along with caddies, marshalls and everyone else who has a view of the ballflight and the chance to shout a warning.

 

I know you accept the risk when you go to a golf tournament, but, if I were to be struck by a ball after no-one bothered to shout I'd be mightily cheesed off.

 

I got hit by Nick Faldo's golf ball once as a 13 year old at Royal Birkdale - but I escaped somewhat unscathed as a result of taking some protective action since numerous people were bellowing 'Fore!' back on the tee.

 

For all the criticism Tiger cops for swearing, wafting clubs about and spitting he's at least one of the few players to still shout when he hits a wide.

 

It baffles me why no-one seems willing to shout these days.

 

 

Good post here. I have noticed over the years on the television broadcasts that players aren't yelling Fore after wayward shots. I know a few of you think that yelling from 200+ yards is not necessary, but, If you hit a shot so bad that people are in danger, you should be yelling as soon as you realize it Pro or not.. It is embarrassing to have to shout at the top of your lungs and let everybody know you have hit a terrible shot, but you have to do it. I am sure most of you have heard a ball buzz by your head on a local course and you look around like What the F'n hell, only to see some guy standing back there like Sorry man.. . :drinks:

 

The Pro's need a reality check. They freak out over someone snapping a camera and then they cant even yell when there golf ball is heading towards a gallery. They should be fined for that kinda of conduct on the course. Doesn't surprise me from Sergio though.

 

I played in a PGA tour event and hit one into the gallery. I was totally not sure what the protocol was...Do I yell fore and maybe mess someone up on another hole? Do I not yell fore and risk hitting someone in the crowd?? I really did not know what to do. I was out of my element and did not want to do the wrong thing. It was one of those moments where you freeze and time slows down...you see the ball going way past where you intended and you cannot control it, then you ponder whether you yell fore, or you keep quiet as to not distract the other golfers that are on the golf course. I asked my playing partners Micheel, and Ogilvie and they said it depends on the situation. If it is off the tee, there are the tee marshals that indicate the direction of the ball with their quiet signs/hand signals, and people should be paying attention, and they will yell fore sometimes. Then the second scenario was from the fairway and depending on if there are holes close by or not can determine if someone yells fore or not. It appears that it is situationally dependent.

 

This is just my observation being inside the ropes. Right, wrong or indifferent there seems to be some sort of code that is to be followed with regard to the surroundings. I am also guessing that it might have something to do with the embarrassment of yelling fore as a professional golfer. Just thought, and I wanted to share my observation from inside the ropes although it may not be person specific, it might be situationally influenced. I am sure there are examples of instances where it would have been prudent to yell fore, and instances where it may have not been necessary. I personally yell fore if there is a reasonable chance of injury or getting close to other people, but I do understand if there is some sort of protocol on tour where it may not be acceptable for them to do it.

 

DG

[Samsquanch]

I guess you failed to notice that 18 was playing dead into the wind. Sergio could have screamed fore at the top of his lungs, but the only people that would have heard it would have been the group on the tee. Honestly come on!

 

 

No.

 

You can try. Obviously he didn't try. Same with Carl Petterson and D.J. Trahan today on the tenth hole, there was no wind, they both hit it in the same spot and both just cleared some spectators heads.

 

I don't know about you guys, but I am terrified when my ball is heading towards someone. Either they don't care about any one else's health or they are just too cool to yell fore. :drinks:

[robstercsi]

Great post, about time somebody mentioned this. Interestingly when I marshalled at the Scottish Open at Loch Lomond two years ago we were told at the pre-tourney debrief that it was NOT our duty to shout 'fore' or even to wave our boards in the ball's direction, even if no-one else i.e. players made no effort to shout. I lost count of how many times balls went towards the crowds and no shouts were made, which frankly is inexcusable. I heard along the grapevine at that comp. (from a european tour caddy) that in some instances players don't shout deliberately so that they may get a 'lucky' bounce off the crowd and back into play, whereas if they shout the crowd may move and the ball end up in a worse position - would like to think that that's definitely not the case, but who knows.

[fish]

I guess you failed to notice that 18 was playing dead into the wind. Sergio could have screamed fore at the top of his lungs, but the only people that would have heard it would have been the group on the tee. Honestly come on!

 

 

 

I don't think external forces over come courtesy. Wind does not cancel out one's manners in my opinion.

 

 

Eric/fish

[mat562]

Midas, thanks for saving me five minutes' worth of typing. Perfectly put.

 

When I was taught to play golf, as a raw novice, the first two things I was taught were NEVER swing a club unless you're sure it won't hit someone standing nearby, and ALWAYS shout 'Fore' if there's any chance whatsoever of the ball hitting someone.

 

Yes, the professional game has got bigger and more lucrative over the years but common sense is universal.

[Grum]

If in doubt, yell fore :drinks:

 

I do it quite alot, but i like putting the fear of death into people if there is a ball heading their way.

[stealthontour]

Couldn't agree more, shouting fore is a must.... and they way I've been playing recently I've even been doing it on the putting green !! :drinks:

[Fastmover2]

You should always shout and indicate with arm. I read in a golf mag Q&A onetime out of the four pros asked 2 said that they would not shout if they thought that hitting a spectator would stop the ball going OB or in big trouble, maybe this was tongue in cheek but....

[EnglishBob]

I took a ball in the thigh last week, my first time getting hit after 6 months of playing golf.... Didn't really hurt, divot tool took the brunt of it...and about 5 seconds after I got hit, I hear "Fore"..... I know sound travels faster than a golf ball.... and I know it don't take 5 seconds to travel 90 yards!

 

It was an older guy and maybe he needed to take his inhaler before he had the air to do it! I was about 40 yards in front and 80 yards to the left of his tee, so he must of hooked it pretty badly.

[BallSpinner]

mat-

 

I just heard Lefty yell "Fore Right" after an errant approach shot on the 9th hole at Riviera.

[mat562]

I just heard Lefty yell "Fore Right" after an errant approach shot on the 9th hole at Riviera.

 

Full marks to him for that.

 

The only thing is, if I'm standing on the left side of the fairway when Mickelson's teeing off and someone says 'he's hooked it' I'd no doubt be the one idiot who was diving for cover on that side of the hole...

[BallSpinner]

I just heard Lefty yell "Fore Right" after an errant approach shot on the 9th hole at Riviera.

 

Full marks to him for that.

 

The only thing is, if I'm standing on the left side of the fairway when Mickelson's teeing off and someone says 'he's hooked it' I'd no doubt be the one idiot who was diving for cover on that side of the hole...

 

 

:drinks:

[jebb]

Great topic and I can never work out why some of the Pros are as blase about not shouting "Fore".

 

I know the Pro earlier on in the thread was giving an inside the ropes perspective on why they might not shout but you are talking about people's health, safety and possibly eyesight were they to be hit by the ball. Feeling embarassed or putting someone else off is never a good reason for nor shouting.

 

Last week I took the wrong club off a par 3 and air mailed the green onto an adjacent tee. I shouted "fore" loudly so the group ahead would know it was incoming. Behind me was the Club Captain at the top of his backswing.

 

I apologised on the next tee and he said "Not a bit of it. If you HADNT warned the group ahead I would be annoyed". Great attitude and if there is any chance of harming a fellow player then shout.

[MR MIZUN0]

When I went to The US Open, I heard a taylormade TP red whiz by my head, the player (never heard of him before) did not even shout FORE. If I was 6 feet tall, I would have been in the hospital.

[withdrew]

There is no good reason to NOT yell "Fore!"

 

"They won't hear me." -DOESN'T MATTER

"I might mess up another golfer's stroke." -DOESN'T MATTER (Safety FIRST)

"People look at the person yelling "Fore!" and not for the ball." -DOESN'T MATTER, and no, they don't.

 

Please yell "Fore!"

 

I swear last round I played, some guy's tee shot missed my face by less than 6 inches. No yell, NOTHING. My playing partner knew the guy and that was the only reason I didn't wrap my 7 iron around his head. He was really apologetic and I could tell he was sincerely sorry, but that doesn't change the fact that I could have been seriously injured.

 

When I hear fore, no matter where it comes from and no matter where I am, I duck and cover my head. I don't look around for the guy who's yelling and I don't look for the ball. If anyone else makes those mistakes, that's their problem.

 

Again, please yell "Fore!"

[Viking Golfer]

Is it just me, or is it becoming increasingly rare to see (or hear) a professional golfer shout 'Fore!' in the event of a wayward shot?

 

Watching the LA Open, I've just seen Garcia pull a fairway wood into #18 which was directly on line with a gaggle of people inside the ropes on the bank to the left of the green. Fortunately the ball missed them - unlike the 3 iron he hit last year's Open Championship that just about KO'd a photographer at #17. Not surprising since no-one (Garcia included) had the sense to shout a warning despite the ball being like a tracer bullet towards the gallery.

 

Not to single out Garcia, since every pro seems to be equally guilty of not shouting these days, along with caddies, marshalls and everyone else who has a view of the ballflight and the chance to shout a warning.

 

I know you accept the risk when you go to a golf tournament, but, if I were to be struck by a ball after no-one bothered to shout I'd be mightily cheesed off.

 

I got hit by Nick Faldo's golf ball once as a 13 year old at Royal Birkdale - but I escaped somewhat unscathed as a result of taking some protective action since numerous people were bellowing 'Fore!' back on the tee.

 

For all the criticism Tiger cops for swearing, wafting clubs about and spitting he's at least one of the few players to still shout when he hits a wide.

 

It baffles me why no-one seems willing to shout these days.

 

I agree with you, Mat :beach:

 

In October I made a post about this particualr topic and found very little understanding and support from the guys in here.

 

You, and a few others, agreed with me - but I must admit, that it kind of surprised me, that GolfWRX members don't find it alarming, that most of the pro guys these days don't use this well known 4 letter word, when they hit a crooked one. They are sending the wrong message to the juniors, who watch golf tournaments. The junior guys will take note of this and will stop shouting FORE!, because the pro guys don't shout it either - so why should they :drinks:

 

Link to my post: http://www.golfwrx.com/forums/index.php?sh...=118128&hl=

 

FORE!

Claus

[Viking Golfer]

I guess you failed to notice that 18 was playing dead into the wind. Sergio could have screamed fore at the top of his lungs, but the only people that would have heard it would have been the group on the tee. Honestly come on!

 

And I gues you failed to notice the symbolism in shouting FORE! no matter what the weather/wind situation might be that particular day !

 

You shout it, no matter what. It's part of normal golf etiquette, at least you tried to warn the guys in danger of being hit by YOUR golf ball.

 

If you have to evaluate and estimate the wind conditions and the slope of the hole before you eventually decide if or if not to shout FORE!, the ball has almost already landed :drinks: